In an attempt to estimate the number of weaver birds in a woodland 435 were captured marked and released.Three days later 620 were captured 75 which were marked.calculate the approximate size of weaver birds in woodland

1 answer

To estimate the total population of weaver birds in the woodland, we can use the Lincoln-Petersen index (part of mark-recapture methods). The formula is:

\[ \frac{N}{M} = \frac{C}{R} \]

Where:

  • \( N \) is the estimated total population size
  • \( M \) is the number of marked individuals released (435)
  • \( C \) is the total number of individuals captured during the second capture (620)
  • \( R \) is the number of marked individuals recaptured (75)

Rearranging the formula to solve for \( N \):

\[ N = \frac{M \times C}{R} \]

Substituting the values:

\[ N = \frac{435 \times 620}{75} \]

Now, calculating that:

  1. Calculate \( 435 \times 620 \):

\[ 435 \times 620 = 270300 \]

  1. Now divide by \( 75 \):

\[ N = \frac{270300}{75} = 3604 \]

Thus, the approximate size of the weaver bird population in the woodland is 3604.